Flatiron



y 27, 1943- A. M. DICKIE 2,325,377

FLATIRON Filed Aug. 21, 1940 2 Shanta-Sheet 1 h n I I215 11 Inventor: Alexander N. Dickie,

His Attorney.

A. M. DICKIE July 27, 1943.

FLATIRON Filed Aug. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k m X b yw nu am e A W .m. i A s A b Patented July 27, 1943 FLATIBON Alexander M. Dickie, Ontario, OaliL, asslgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 21, 1940, Serial No. 853,478

9 Claims.

This invention relates to flatirons, more particularly to electrically heated flatirons, and it has for its object the provision of improved terminal and heel rest structures in an iron oi.

this character.

This invention is particularly applicable to flatirpns having permanently attached electrical supply conductors, and it contemplates an improved terminal structure for efiecting permanent electrical connections between the supply conductors and the terminals of the electrical heater oi the flatiron which has a simple and inexpensive constructlon. and one which is mechanically strong and durable.

Moreover, this invention contemplates an improved heel rest construction wherein the heel rest is formed by extending the cover shell or the iron out beyond the rear of the flatiron sole plate. In other words, a single shell functions both as a cover for the sole plate and also as a heel rest. The improved construction provides simple and inexpensive means for closing the opening between the end of the shell and the end of the sole plate.

In accordance with this invention, a.suitable electrically insulating, terminal member is mounted in the shell, preferably in the heel rest section thereof. The upper wall of this section of the shell is provided with an'aperture through which the upper part of the terminal member projects. The terminal member is provided with passageways opening through the top into which the supply conductors are led, and also with other passageways Joining the first and into which leads from the heater terminals are directed. Members joining the leads and their respective conductors are housed within the passageways.

Preferably, the supply conductors will be led to the insulating member through the rear handle standard. This standard will be located over the opening in the shell through which the terminal member projects and it is hollow so that the conductors can pass through it to the terminal member. a

The terminal member is mounted upon a suitable supporting bracket located within the shell. This bracket functions also as an anchor for the supp conductors.

Another function of this bracket is to support a suitable cover plate for the hollow heel rest extension. This plate is directed between the rear end of the shell and the rear end of the sole plate so as to completely cover the bottom oi the extension of the shell forming the heel rest.

A suitable signal lamp is provided tor the iron to indicate when it is energized. This lamp is mounted in a suitable supporting bracket which in turn is supported by the terminal memher.

For a more complete understanding this invention, reference should be had to the accompan'ying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an electrically heated flatiron embodying this invention, parts being broken away so as to illustrate certain details of construction; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the fiatiron 01' Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view or a portion of the fiatiron of Figs. 1 and 2 with parts removed so as to illustrate certain details of construction: Figs. 4

and 5 are sectional views taken through the lines H and 5-4 oi. Fig. 1 and looking in the directions of the arrows associated with these lines; Fig. 6 is an enlarged expanded perspective view illustrating certain elements of the iron 01' Figs. 1-5; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the heating element of the iron and certain control means therefor, and also showing an indicating lamp connected in the. iron circuit.

Referring to the drawings, this invention has been shown in one form as applied to an electrically heated flatiron comprising a sole plate It. The sole plate I! is heated by an electrical heating element II which as shown is embedded in the sole plate, and which preferably will be 01' the sheathed type, such as described in the United States patent to C. 0. Abbott No. 1,367,841, dated February 1, 1921. Briefly, this heating element comprises a helical resistance conductor I! mounted in a metallic sheath I3, and embedded in and supported in spaced relation with reference to the sheath by a compacted mass it oi heat conducting, electrically insulating-material, such as magnesium oxide. The heating element is of substantially U-shape and is provided at its ends with terminals ii.

The sole plate III is provided with a cover shell l6, which as shown at the point and sides rests upon the edges 01' the sole plate, and which is secured to the sole plate by means 01' a screw I! which secures the shell directly to a transverse plate ll. The transverse plate I8 is secured to the sole plate by means of a pair of screw members I! directed through apertures provided for them in the plate and received in threaded engagement in a pair of studs III, as

shown. The studs 23 in turn are screwed into the sole plate.

The studs also are used to secure a suitable heat responsive control device 2! to the sole plate. This control device may be of any suitable construction, but I prefer to use a control device such as described and claimed in the United States patent to W. J. Ettinger et al. No. 2,061,419, dated November 17, 1936. The base 22 of the thermostat is secured to the sole plate by the studs 20 which are directed tbroush apertures provided for them in the base.

The shell It extends outwardly beyond the rear end of the sole plate so as to form a heel rest section 23. The heel rest section 23 termimates in a rolled-in or curved edge 23 which functions to support the iron when it is turned upright from its ironing position.

Mounted upon the shell is a suitable handle 25 which will be formed of any suitable material, but preferably will be made of a molded phenol condensation product. The handle is provided with a, forward standard 250 which is secured to the ,shell at the front, and with a rear standard 25b secured to the shell at the rear, preferably to that portion of the shell which constitutes the heel rest.

The rear standard 2511 is hollow, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and into this hollow standard is introduced a twin supply conductor 23 hav ing a pair of conducting members 230. and 23b. The conductor 26 where it enters the handle is rovided with a reeniorcing member 21 anchored in any suitable manner to the handle.

The conducting members 23a and 23b ot the supply conductor are electrically connected with the terminals 15 of the heating unit through the temperature control device 2| in the following manner. The conductor 28?) is connected to a lead 23 that is electrically connected with one terminal l5 of the heating element. From this lead the circuit may be traced through the heating element H to a lead 29 connected with the opposite terminal of the heating element. The lead 23 is electrically connected with a lead 30 through a suitable resistance element 3|. The lead 30 1s connected with a contact 32 (Fig. 'l) of the control device 2|, while the opposite contact 32a of this control device is connected to a lead 33. The contacts 32 and 32a are arranged to be bridged by the contact 34 which is controlled by the temperature responsive element 35 01 the control device 2| in the manner fully described in. the abovementioned Ettinger et a]. patent to control the energization of the heating element ll so as to hold a substantially constant preselected temperature in the sole plate. The supply conductor 26a is adapted to -be connected to the lead 33. Suitable electrical connection means are interposed between the respective supply conductors 26a and 23b and their leads 33 and 23, and these members are housed in a suitable electrically insulating member or block 33 which is formed of any suitable mechanically strong electrically insulating material, such as porcelain. The block 36 is mounted in the shell l6, preferably so that the major portion of the block lies within the heel rest section of the shell, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The block 36, as shown, projects upwardly through an aperture 31 provided for it in this section of the shell. The block 36 is provided with three .large vertically arranged passageways 33, 39 and 40, with a pair of lateral passageways II and 42 communicating with the vertical passageways 33 and 33 respectively, with a similar passageway 32a (Fig. 3) communicating with the vertical passageway 40 and also with a lateral passageway 43 which also communicates with the vertical passageway 39.

The conductor 23a is directed down into the passageway 33, and it is connected with its lead 33 by means 01' a connection member 44 which lies within the bottom of the passageway 33 and which projects out into the lateral passageway ll, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The conductor 23a is electrically connected with the inner end of the connector member M by means 01 a screw 43, and the lead 33, which is directed into the lateral passageway ll, is electrically connected with the outer end of the connector member 44 by means or a screw 13. The other supply conductor 23b is directed down into the vertical passageway MI, and it is electrically connected to the lead 23 by a screw 41 which is provided with a nut 41a that clamps the conductor to the lead, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The lead 23 is directed to the lower end of the passageway 40 through the lateral passageway 42a. The lead 30 is electrically connected with the resistance element 3| by means of a connector member 43 similar to the connector member N. which is inserted through the lateral opening 42 so that its inner end lie in the bottom 01' the vertical passageway 33. As shown, the lead 33 is connected to the outer end of this member by means of ascrew 43. The resistance member 3i extends through the lateral opening 43 into the passageway 33 where it is connected to the plate 43 by a screw 50. As shown, the other end of the resistor 3| is connected to the lead 23 by means of a screw 5| The electrically insulating terminal member 33 is mounted upon a supporting bracket 52. The bracket 52 has in general a U shape. The legs or the U terminate in feet 53 which are arranged to be clamped rigidly to the sole plate Ill. As shown, these feet 33 are connected by means of screws 54a to upright bosses 54 provided on the sole plate. At the rear of the bosses the legs are provided with downwardly inclined sections 55 which merge into downwardly inclined sections 33, the latter sections, however, having a much smaller slope than have the sections 55. The sections 53 in turn are connected to a nexus 51 which at its extreme end flattens out into a section 53 which is substantially horizontal when the iron is horizontal. At the sides the bracket is provided with downwardly extending tabs or feet 53 which engage the upper surface of the sole plate, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to stabilize the bracket.

The nexus 51 is provided with an upright finger 33 which is located between the legs 52 and which passes upwardly through a closely fitting slot GI provided for it in the insulator 33. In other words, the insulator 33 rests upon the inclined sections 53 and the inclined part of the nexus 51 and is prevented from moving laterally with reference to the bracket by the tongue 60 which is directed upwardly through the slot 6|.

The bracket 52 in addition to functioning as a support for the insulator 33 also functions as an anchor for the twin supply conductor 28. M shown, the upper end or the tongue BI) is provided with a hook 32. This book. 62 functions to fasten an eyelet 33 which is rigidly secured to the twin supply conductor in any suitable manner as by means oi a clamp 34 that grips the insulating covering 0! the conductor Furthermore, the bracket it functions to support a closure plate I! which closes the space between the rear edges of the shell I! and or the sole plate II. As shown, the cover plate at its i'orward end rests upon the upper surface or the sole plate and at its rear end is secured to the fiat part 58 of the nexus 51 by a screw 60. It is to be understood that the plate extends transversely across the iron so as to completely cover the opening between the rear edges of the sole plate and shell. Also it will be understood that the downwardly extending sections 59 on the bracket engage the upper surface of the closure plate to hold it down gainst the sole plate. The rear edges of the closure plate I! and of the part 58 oi the bracket are received in the curved-in section 24 of the shell, the plate 65 resting upon the upper surface of this curved section.

A suitable indicating lamp 8! is mounted in the handle standard 25b in an opening 68 provided for it in the wall of this standard. as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The lamp is mounted in a lamp bracket 89 which has a screw threaded connection with the lamp and which is supported in an upright position in the hollow standard by means of the terminal block 38. For this purpose, the terminal block is provided with a vertical slot 10 into which the lower end of the bracket is slid, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The upper end of the lamp bracket carries an insulating member II and this in turn supports a lamp contact 12. The bracket 68 and the contact 12 are provided with spring clamps 69a and 12a respectively which secure electrical supply leads 13 and for the terminals of the lamp. The supply lead 14 is electrically connected to one side of the resistance element ill by means oi. the screw 50. The other lead 13 is electrically connected with the other end 01' the resistance 3| by means of the screw 5! which connects the resistance to the lead 29. As shown, the lead 13 is brought around the edge of the bracket from the front where it is clamped by the spring 890 to the rear side of the bracket where it is directed downwardly into the slot 10. The lower end of this bracket is curved around the lead as shown in Fig. 3. The lead then is directed forwardly under the lower edge of the bracket and is brought out laterally through an opening "a communicating with the vertical opening 10. The construction obviates the possibility of the lead touching the shell 10.

It will be observed that the lamp $8 is supplied with a voltag equalling the voltage drop across the resistance at. It will also be observed by reference to Fig. 7 that when the switch contacts 32 and 32a are closed to energize the iron heater II, the lamp Bl will be energized, whereas when these contacts are open to deenergize the heater l I, the lamp will be turned on. In this way, the lamp functions as a signal to indicate when the iron is energized.

This invention provide a relatively simple, inexpensive and strong permanent terminal connection means between the conductors oi the twin supply conductor and the terminals of the heater. These electrical connections are established in an electrically insulating block 38 which has considerable mechanical strength. This insulating block is mounted upon a rigid supporting bracket 52 which is secured in the iron by means of a pair oi screws 54a. This bracket not only functions to support the insulator block 38 but it also anchors th supply conductor 26 by means of the hook 62. It also supports the indiminal block within eating lamp u,- its bracket to and the electrical connections leading to the lamp In addition, the bracket functions to hold the fore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 01' the United States, is: 1. An electrically heated flatiron comprising a sole plate, an electric heating element for said sole plate, a, shell covering said sole plate, a hollow heel rest for said iron extending rearwardly from the rear edge of said sole plate, said heel rest being open at the bottom and also opening into the rear ofsaid shell,-an electrically insulated tersaid hollow heel rest, a sup porting bracket having a first portion secured to said sole plate and a second portion extending rearwardly into said hollow heel rest, means securing said insulating block to said second portion so as to hold the block in its upright position in said heel rest, said insulating block also having passageways therethrough, electrical supply conductors for said heating element entering said passageways and electrical leads connected to said heating element also entering said passageways, means within said passageways electrically connecting said electrical leads and conductors together, a cover plate closing said hollow heel rest at the bottom, and means securing said cover plate to said second portion of said bracket.

2. In an electrically heated flatiron having a sole plate, an electrical heating element for said sole plate having terminals, electrical supply leads electrically connected to said terminals and electrical supply conductors for said leads, an electrically insulating block having passageways into which corresponding pairs of said leads and conductors are directed, means in said passageways electrically connecting said corresponding pairs together, a bracket secured to said sole plate upon which said insulating block is mounted, said bracket having an upright finger and said block having a slot receiving said finger so as to hold said block in position on said bracket, and means anchoring said supply conductors to said finger.

3. In an electrically heated fiatiron having a sole plate, an electrical heating element for said sole plate having terminals, electrical supply leads attached to said terminals and electrical supply conductors for said leads, a shell for said sole plate,a handle attached to said shell having a hollow section and said shell having an aperture opening into said hollow section, said supply conductors entering said hollow section through an aperture provided for it in said handle, an electrically insulating block in said shell having passageways opening into said shell and up through said aperture in said shell into said hollow section, said leads and conductors entering said passageways and connections in said passageways between said lead and conductors, a bracket in said shell secured to said sole plate supporting said insulating block and having a finger extending upwardly into said hollow section and received in a slot provided for it in said block, a hook on the upper end of said finger and an eyelet in said hollow section attached to said supply conductors and fastened to said hook so as to anchor said supply conductors to said bracket. 4. In an electrically heated flatiron having a sole plate, an electrical heating element for said sole plate having terminals, electrical supply leads attached to said terminals and electrical supply conductors for said leads, an electrically insulating block having passageways into which corresponding pairs of said leads and conductors are directed, means in said passageways mechanically and electrically connecting said corresponding pairs together, a U-shaped bracket supporting said insulating block, means securing the extremities of the legs of said bracket to said sole plate, and the nexus oi said bracket having a finger extending upwardly and received in a closely fitting slot provided for it in said block. a

5. In an electrically heated fiatiron having a sole plate, an electrical heating element for said sole plate having terminals, electrical supply leads attached to said terminals and electrical supply conductors for said leads, a shell for said sole plate having an opening in its upper wall through wh ch said supply conductors enter the shell, an electrically insulating block having passageways for receiving said conductors respectively, and also having passageways for receiving said leads respectively, means in the respective passageways for connecting the leads and conductors received therein together, an indicating lamp for said iron, a supporting bracket for said lamp, said insulating block being provided with a slot for receiving and supporting said lamp bracket and also with a passageway to said slot Ior leading an electrical supply lead to said lamp. 6. In a. flatiron having a sole plate, a one-piece shell covering said sole plate and having a hollow open-bottomed rearward extension defining a heel rest, the rear end of said shell at the rear of said rest being folded inwardly, a bracket in said shell having a portion resting on and secured to said sole plate and a rearwardly tending portion inclined downwardly into said heel rest so that its rear edge is directly above said folded edge of said shell, a cover plate closing the opening between said rear edge and the rear of said sole plate having one end resting on said sole and its other end extending between said bracket and said folded edge so that said folded edge supports said other end and also said rear edge of said portion of said bracket, means connecting said other end to said bracket, and said bracket having parts extending downwardly from said rearwardly extending portion to engage said one end so as to hold it against said sole plate.

'7. In an electrically heated fiatiron having a sole plate, an electrical heating element for said sole plate having terminals, electrical supply leads attached to said terminals and electrical supply conductors for said leads, a shell ior said sole plate having a section extending rearwardly irom said sole plate so as to form an openbottomed hollow heel rest, the upper wall of sa d section being provided with an opening, a handle for said shell having a hollow rear standard positioned so that said opening opens into said rear standard, said supply conductors extending through said hollow rear standard and down into said heel rest through said opening, a U-shaped bracket in the rear of said shell having the ends of its legs attached to said sole plate and extending to the rear edge of said shell where the nexus of said bracket is located, said nexus being provided with an upright finger extending upwardly through said aperture, an electrically insulating block mounted on said bracket having a slot receiving and closely fitting said finger, and also provided with passageways receiving said conductors and leads, means in .said passageways connecting said conductors and leads, and a closure plate tor the open bottom of said heel rest attached to said nexus.

8. In an electrically heated fiatiron having a sole plate, an electrical heating element for said sole plate having terminals, electrical supply leads attached to said terminals and electrical supply conductors for said leads, a shell for said sole plate having a section extending rearwardly irom said sole plate so as to form an open-bottomed hollow heel rest, the upper wall of said section being provided with an opening, a handle for said shell having a hollow rear standard positioned so that said opening opens into said rear standard, said supply conductors extending through said hollow rear standard and down into said heel rest through said opening, a U-shaped bracket in the rear of said shell having the ends of its legs attached to said sole plate and extending to the rear edge of said shell where the nexus of said bracket is located, said nexus being provided with an upright finger extendin upwardly through said aperture, an electrically insulating block mounted on said bracket having a slot receiving and closely fitting said finger, and also provided with passageways receiving said conductors and leads, means in said passageways connecting said conductor and leads, a closure plate for the open bottom of said heel rest attached to said nexus, a hook on the upper end of said finger, and an eyelet in said hollow standard attached tosaid supply conductors and fastened to said hook.

9. In an electrically heated flatiron having a sole plate, an electrical heating element for said sole plate having terminals, electrical supply leads electrically connected to said terminals and electrical supply conductors for said leads, a shell for said sole plate, a handle attached to said shell having a hollow section and said shell having an aperture opening into said hollow section, said supply conductors entering said hollow section through an aperture provided for it in said handle, an electrically insulating block in said shell having passageways opening into said shell and up through said aperture in said shell into said hollow section, said leads and conductors entering said passageways and connections in said passageways between said lead and conductors, a bracket in said shell secured to said sole plate supporting said insulating block and having a finger extending upwardly into said hollow section and received in a slot provided for it in said block, and means securing said supply conductors to said finger so as to anchor them thereto.

ALEXANDER M. DICKIE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,52 ,577. y 27, 19 5.

ALEXANDER 1! DICKIE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, secand column, line 75, after the word "conductor" insert a period: page 1+, first column, line 15, claim 6, iori'tending" read --extending--; line k8, after "sole" insert "plate"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record. of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 114th day of September, A. D. 1914.5.

Henry Van Arsdsile, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

